Light Mountain Rifle Caliber

Just want to get you seasoned hunters opinions. General usage would be a walk around rifle in PA woods. .308 isn't an option because I own one, just looking for something different and a good deer slayer. Want to stick with short action.

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Matthew 7:13-14
"Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. [14] But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.

I am quite fond of my 260's and 120 ballistic tips. haven't tracked one more than 10 steps in last 9 years I have been shooting them. Have shot deer from 10 yards to 550 with it. good bullet performance at all ranges for me. I have a 700 mountain rifle dm and a 700 stainless dm, and my boys shoot a model 7 youth. easy to load for and accepts many different powders with good results.

I'd pass on the 223, I know it will work but for all practicle perposes its too small! The 6.5-55 Sweed is a great round but a little long for a short action, here again it will work but why limit its potential!
All of the other would work but if I had to pick one the 7-08 or the old plain jane 284 would get the nod.

__________________"Make everything as simple as possible, but not simpler." -Albert Einstein (1879-1955)

I have been thinking about the .284. I forgot about that one. But I like the potential that is hidden in that little cartridge.

__________________
Matthew 7:13-14
"Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. [14] But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.